If the name Zeekr doesn’t ring a bell, it’s a Chinese automaker founded by Geely last year to serve as a premium conglomerate brand separate from Volvo. After unveiling the swoopy 001 station wagon, newcomer to the EV game unveils the boldly styled 009 minivan. Although it doesn’t have a combustion engine that would require cooling, the mover has a huge fake grille billed as the “spring of light” with 154 programmable LEDs.
The Zeekr 009 is imposing given that it is 5209 millimeters (205 inches) long, 2024 mm (80 inches) wide and 1867 mm (74 inches) high. Its generous 3205 mm (126 in.) wheelbase creates a spacious three-row cabin with 2+2+2 seating or an optional 2+2 executive layout. Even though it looks like a box on wheels, the drag coefficient is a remarkably low 0.27, aided by what the automaker calls the largest aerodynamic windshield in the segment.
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Weighing 2,830 kilograms (6,239 pounds), the Zeekr 009 is one of the heaviest electric vehicles on the market, but it is very fast. It does 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in just four and a half seconds thanks to a twin-punch motor setup with a combined 536 horsepower. It is based on the parent company’s Sustainable Experience Architecture platform, a modular architecture that underpins a variety of electric vehicles, including the Smart #1, Polestar 4 and Lotus Eletre SUV.
A big, heavy vehicle needs a big battery, and Zeekr has equipped its remarkable AWD minivan with a 140 kWh lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt pack developed by CATL. It is good for a range of 511 miles (822 kilometers) according to the China Light Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC). Besides its impressive range, the 009 has a few other tricks up its sleeve, including air suspension for a silky smooth ride and the largest one-piece die-cast aluminum structure used in a road vehicle. Mounted at the rear, the massive piece is 1400 mm (55 in) long and 1600 mm (57 in) wide.
The interior looks much more conventional than the polarizing exterior, but it also has some interesting features. Goodies include a 15.6-inch ceiling-mounted screen, voice recognition for each of the six seats, a large 585cm screen2 table, an on-board communication system and massaging seats wrapped in Nappa leather.
Zeekr claims the 009 is the safest minivan in the world thanks to 30 driver assistance features included as standard equipment. The electric family car is equipped with 12 short-range ultrasonic radars, one ultra-long-range wave radar, four 2 MP surround-view cameras and seven 8 MP HD cameras.
The spectacular-looking 009 is set to go on sale next year in China, where the 001 recorded more than 10,000 monthly sales in October for the first time since its launch a year ago.
